The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1887-12-27
PASTOR PLEASED.
The Rector of Calvary Church
Remembered by His
Friends.
They Take Him 10y Storm, and
Leave Him a Handsome
Present.

There never was a finer evening, or
a crisper atmosphere, or a merrler
Jingle of bells, than last evening, and
the proyerbialIy cosy parIors Of the
rectory of Calvary church were never
cosier, nor a more cheerful blaze
leaped and danced and sang in the
CRATE. There was a hOmelike air and a
feeling of peace and happiness.
ceiling !" went the street bell, and
In came "A troop of men, headed by
Master Mechanic Weller and Dad"
J. l.. Smith. They marched with a
steady tread through the hall and into
the sitting room, not a word nor Il
smile, to the utter surprise Of the rec
tor and his good wife. They ranged
themselves about the fire, their faces
betraying none of the mystery sur
rounding their onslaught.
A rap Of the kEuckles on the table,
and the assemblage came TO order.
Mr.. Smith, the speaker of the party,
took position beside a new No. 2
Remington typewriter that had been
steathy placed in the middle Of the
floor, and said:
"Mr. Wilkins, we have called this
evening, to return the many calls you
have made us at the shops, and TO
show our appreciation of your friendly
greetings and our pleasant interviews.
We belong to that class of lite known
as railroad men and machinists, and
from our ranks many have been called
to occupy more responsible stations,
you being a notable example. In the
hearts of the laymen of your parish
you will find that honest, sincere friend
ship, which in your time of trial, will
guard your good name and assist you
in bearing the burdens Of your priestly
office. Writing sermons is no doubt
one of the arduous duties of that office,
and to assist you in this, and to make
this pleasant duty more pleasant, al
low us to present you with this little
machine. A type writer is almost
human, and will assist you in your
work without a murmur. Accept
this testimonial Of our appreciation Of
your character as man, our respect
for you as christian gentleman, our
profound regard for you as the eXpon-
ent of the christian religion and the
Episcopal church. And, sir, beiiev-
ing | voice the sentiments of your
whole parish, and knowing that I
speak the thoughts of those present, |
permit me to say that as this machine
works the imprint of your thoughts
upon the paper, so may the result Of
your efforts to lead man to a pure and !
ho!ier life, mark its imprint upon your /
mind in letters of everlasting JOY.
Mr.. wilkins was taken COM
pleteIy by surprise, and required some
minutes to recover therefrOm. Then |
he arose and thanked the donors in a |
neat little speech, saying, among other
things, that he never could make a
speech, but it seemed to him he had |
always been making sermon. Early |
in life, when at work in the shop. by
the drill, or the lathe, or the planning
machine, his mind had run on
been for the be:terment of himself
sermons. The church Of which
he was one of the humblest members
and rectOrs, was not a fashionable
church, but welcomed to its broad
folds the rich and poor alike the
man from the bank and the man
from the shops, as brothers he who
was clothed in purple and fine linen,
and he with overalls and the black of
honest tell, hand in hand. He would
accept this gift from his brother toll
ers in the various walks of life, thank
ing you for it.
After the exchange of hearty greet
ings, the gentlemen left, carrying
Rev. Wilkins with them. They went
to Sicher's hotel, where oysters were
served and general good time had
by all. The following gentlemen
were present
S. p. Weller, E. G. Ford, J.T.
Jones, Geo. Lord, J. L. Smith, j.
w. Mills, P. K. Church, J. l.. Elk
ms, ]. ID. Russell, Chas. Hammond,
S. ID. Sugden, j. E. Arhen, VIM.
Craven, d. w. Talbot, Chas. E.
Felske, j. w. Num-, A. B. Ander-
son, VIM. Dunn, Mathew Bohn, J.
B. Mercer, Elmer Apperson, d. c.
McDougall.
The instrument is No. 2 Reming-
ton. latest improved pattern, and
bears silver plate with the following
inscription
s.s...s-...
/: Rev. J. J. WILKINS
:Christmas. 1887:
Presented by